Mechanisms of sex-specific reproductive timing and migratory movements in seasonal environments

来自地球各地的证据表明，气候制度正在发生变化，社会现在面临的问题是：动物能跟上环境变化的速度吗？在像加拿大这样的季节性环境中，迁徙和繁殖的时间对动物的生殖健康有很大的影响。然而，最佳时机可能因性别而异，在多个时空尺度变化的环境中难以实现。为了准确预测种群的反应，我们需要加强对个体如何预测季节变化和对环境变化做出反应的理解。我们也不能再忽视迁徙和繁殖时间的性别差异，因为个体对非生物和生物因素的反应方式可能是性别特异性的。我的研究项目是揭示影响雄性和雌性如何根据环境因素调整迁徙和繁殖时间的关键机制。我提议的研究将集中在两种迁徙的、高度季节性的、表现出性别特异性的脊椎动物群体：太平洋鲑鱼和北美林莺。

Evidence from around the Earth indicates that climate regimes are shifting, and society now faces the question: can animals keep pace with the rate of environmental change? In seasonal environments like those of Canada, the timing of migration and reproduction strongly influences reproductive fitness in animals. Yet optimal timing can be sex-specific and difficult to achieve in environments that vary at multiple spatial and temporal scales. To predict responses of populations accurately, we need to strengthen our understanding of how individuals anticipate seasonal change and respond to environmental variability. We also can no longer ignore sex differences in the timing of migration and reproduction, because the way individuals respond to abiotic and biotic factors likely will be sex-specific. My research program is uncovering key mechanisms that influence how males and females time their migratory and reproductive events in response to environmental factors. My proposed research will focus on two vertebrate groups that are migratory, highly seasonal, and exhibit sex-specific timing: Pacific salmon and North American warblers.       My research program has revealed new insights about individual variation in seasonal timing in salmon and birds, and a broad theme has emerged. My data suggest that individual animals may flexibly adjust their timing of migration and reproduction to maximize fitness, which may hasten adaptation to climate change. However, we are still not close to predicting population responses. My next step will be to learn more about adaptive, sex-specific timing by focusing on underlying mechanisms.       My proposed new research program has three objectives. (1) I will undertake a definitive study of the behavioural and physiological mechanisms underlying sex-specific migration timing in warblers, by using a state-of-the-art, large-scale telemetry array (75 automated receivers) to track migratory movements over 40,000 sq. km in Ontario. (2) I will conduct field experiments to uncover the mechanisms underlying sex-specific migration timing in kokanee salmon. (3) I will evaluate how social behaviour influences migration behaviour and arrival timing to spawning areas in kokanee salmon. Data from these studies will address important hypotheses about timing and will feed into theory development.       My research program will advance knowledge of sex-specific timing in salmon and migratory birds, two groups that are of exceptional ecological, economic, and cultural importance to Canada. I will train 16 students and 9 other trainees. These trainees will become experts in the fundamentals of ecology, evolution, and behaviour, and will gain skills to study and model migration, reproduction, energy use, and movement. They will become highly competent scientists working in academia, industry, government, and NGOs to determine best practices for natural resource management.